The Svay Rieng Provincial Court on Monday charged two men with premeditated murder, theft and participating in a criminal association for their roles in a robbery that left one man dead last month.
Three men stormed a mobile payment kiosk in Romeas Hek district’s Andong Por commune on April 21, shooting a relative of the owner three times with an AK-47 assault rifle before making off with 31 million riel (about $7,750), $4,000 in U.S. notes and $725 worth of gold jewelry.
Suspects Chhoeun Chhy, 32, and Sou Yem, 27, were arrested last week after provincial police received information that Mr. Chhy was hiding in Phnom Penh. The third suspect remains at large.
“We cooperated with police [in Phnom Penh] to search for him,” said Khim Lai, chief of the provincial police’s serious crimes bureau, who led the investigation.
After Mr. Chhy was arrested on April 28, he revealed that Mr. Yem was hiding in Kandal province.
“After I got that information, I led my force to cooperate with police in [Kandal’s] Ang Snuol district to arrest Mr. Yem at about 7 a.m.” on April 29, Mr. Lai said.
During the arrests, Mr. Lai said police confiscated some of the stolen jewelry and the motorbike used in the robbery, but not the gun that was used, which the third suspect is believed to still possess.
Mr. Lai said police know the identity of the third suspect and are trying to track him down, but declined to name the man.
“We know his identity, so I hope our forces will arrest him soon and bring him to face the court,” he said.
Provincial court Investigating Judge Suon Samnang said the two arrested men were charged Monday with premeditated murder, aggravated theft and participation in a criminal association, and were sent to the provincial prison.
“They face life in jail if found guilty,” Judge Samnang said.
